Hinged packing unit



June 13, 1933;?

J. R. MAHAN HINGED PACKINGUNIT Filed July 2, 1951 Patented June 13, 1933 V UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH R. MAHAN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, .ABSIGNQR TO THE NATIONAL SUPLY COMPANY,

OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO KING-ED PACKING UNIT Application filed July 2, 1931. Serial No. 548,843.

My invention relates to packing units designed particularl for packing annular spaces between caslng heads and drill pipes suspended therein, but it "is capable of use in other devices.

- It is the principal object of this invention to provide a hinged packing unit which may be opened on one side so as to be quickly applied around a drill pipe of the like, and lowis ered into position inthe casing head in cases of emergency. Another object isto provide means for locking the hinged portions of the packing unit in their closed positions' Referring to the awompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section on the line 11 on Fig. 2, showing a packing unit constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the packing unit with the hinged members closed; Fig. 3, a top plan view of the packingunit with the hinged members partially open Fig. 4, a bottom plan view of the packing unit ;and Fig. 5, a transverse section of the left hand portion of Fig. 2.

On the drawing, 1 designates a hollow cy- 23 lindrical packing ring composed of asbestos, rubber or other suitable compressible packing material. The ring is divided longitudinally into two lateral members 2 and 3 along the planes indicated by the lines 4 and 5. The line 4 is radial and the line 5 is diagonal'cutting an imaginary radius preferably at about an angle of thirty degrees thereof, but

, it may be greater.

The upper ends of the members 2 and '3 have-thereon the respective arcuate metal followers Sand 7, conforming to the arcuate upper ends of the members 2 and 3, but they are spaced slightly from their arcuate outer and inner surfaces. The opposing ends of the followers 6 and 7 are spaced slightly apart so that they will not mutually engage when the ring 1 is compressed and the material thereof cree s. I

The lower ends of the members 2 and 3 have thereon the respective arcuate metal followers 8' and -9 shaped and arranged on the lower ends of the ring 1, the same as the followers 6 and 7 are on the upper ends thereof.

The members 2 and 3 are secured to their respective followers by the rivets 10 having mg or abutting ends of the members 2 and 3 pass each other with little or nomutual engagement. The link permits the free open-.

their heads in counterbores 11 in the followers. The ends of the ring 1 have ribs 12 and 13 seated in the grooves 14 and 15 respeca the latch 22 ivoted on the cross in 23 standing across t e recess 21. The atch is constructed with the hook 24 which is adapted to enter the recess 25 in the adjacent end of the follower 6. The hook catches over the cross pin 26 standing across the recess 25 when the members ofthe ring are closed as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The hook is urged to snap into locking engagement with the cross pin 26 by the spring 27 seated'in the recess 21 and bearing against the tail 28 of the latch. The latch may be freed from the cross pin 26 by exerting inward pressure on the tail of thelatch. I Q

Upon opening the packing unit the members 2 and 3 swing out on the link 16, the angle of the line 5 being such that the opposmg movements of the members 2 and 3, which would be impossible if only a single hinged in were used assin throu h overlapping Ends of the followers 6 and 'f. When the ring 1 is closed the ends of the members 2 and 3 are in abutting en agement along the entire planes indicate by the lines 4 and 5,

but when the members commence swinging open, the abutting ends of the members 2 and 3 commence to separate and move laterally with respect to each other without mutual interference.

I claim 1. An annular ring of packing material divided longitudinally along two planes into lateral elements, one plane including -the longitudinal axis of the ring and the 'othe'rplane being at a substantial'angle with '100 plane, hinged follower rings carried by the ring of acking material and a link spanning thesai plane which is at a substantial angle with the first plane and pivotally con- 5 necting the two lateral elements together.

2. An annular ring of packing material divided longitudinally along' two planes into lateral elements, one plane cutting the ring of packing material at an angle of 30 or more 19 with theradius of the ring intersecting the said one plane where t e latter cuts the ring, a follower carried by each element, and a link spanning the plane making the said angle with the radius of the ring and pivotally connecting together the adjacent ends of the followers.

3. An annular ring o: packing material divided longitudinally along two planes into lateral elements, one plane cutting the ring 20 of packing material at a substantial angle with the radius of the ring intersecting the said one plane where the latter cuts the ring, a follower carried by each element, and a' link spanning the plane making the said an- 25 gle with the radius of the ring and pivotally connecting together the adjacent ends of the followers, the pivotal connections of the link with the said elements having constant relative positions.

In testimon whereof, E hereunto afix my signature.

J 1%. l LAHAN. 

